Aloft Hotel Detroit | David Whitney Building

The David Whitney Building stands as one of the most enduring and iconic legacies of America’s Golden Age. Completed in 1915, the 19-story building was the skyscraper of its time, representing a symbol of classic American strength and beauty.

The David Whitney Building stands as one of the most enduring and iconic legacies of America’s Golden Age. Completed in 1915, the 19-story building was the skyscraper of its time, representing a symbol of classic American strength and beauty.

Built in homage to the great lumber and shipping magnate David Whitney Jr., the building was designed by the legendary architectural firm Daniel H. Burnham & Co. and boasted a Neo-Renaissance style exterior with a beautiful terra cotta and glazed brick facade.

The four story atrium is one of the signature elements of style that makes the David Whitney Building an American classic. The atrium was once one of the most visited retail destinations in the Midwestern United States.

Beautifully lit by a skylight and adorned with marble, terra cotta and gold leafing, visitors would come from around the region to shop at the Whitney Building and see the incredible architecture. After its opening, the David Whitney Building quickly established itself as the premiere address of Detroit’s best doctors and medical professionals.

As a result, Detroiters of all ages and income levels have strong memories of walking through its sunlit lobby, ascending its wood-lined elevators and strolling its marble-lined corridors. As a result, perhaps no building still standing in the City of Detroit holds stronger recognition for its residents than the David Whitney Building.